Powers and Thrones: A New History of the Middle Ages

by Dan Jones

This was the way of war, and in part the way of Islam. Although there were many examples of Muhammad preaching tolerance and peace, the hadith compiled during Umar’s caliphate also contained striking pronouncements advocating for war and violence. In one, Muhammad was reported to have said, “Allah guarantees that He will admit the Mujahid [holy warrior] in His Cause into Paradise if he is killed, otherwise He will return him to his home safely with rewards and war booty.”25 The concept of jihad (meaning “struggle”) demanded that all Muslims make strenuous effort for the cause of Islam. Very often during the Middle Ages this meant taking up arms and killing other human beings in the expectation of reward in the afterlife.